The holiday season is a magical time of year, filled with celebrations, traditions, and excitement. However, for teachers, it can also bring unique challenges in keeping students motivated and engaged in the classroom. Whether you’re teaching in-person or online, the festive spirit often distracts students from their usual learning routines. For TESOL teachers, these distractions can be even more pronounced, as many English learners are also navigating cultural differences and new holiday customs. Here’s how you can keep students motivated during the holidays while embracing the season’s joy.
1. Integrate Holiday Themes into Lessons
One of the best ways to maintain student interest is by making lessons relevant to the time of year. Incorporating holiday themes into your English lessons allows students to stay engaged while learning about new cultural traditions.
- Thematic Vocabulary Lessons: Teach vocabulary related to holiday traditions, food, and celebrations. For example, words like “gingerbread,” “mistletoe,” or “fireworks” can add seasonal relevance to lessons.
- Festive Writing Prompts: Assign creative writing tasks where students describe their favorite holiday memory or imagine a new holiday tradition.
- Cultural Comparisons: Create activities where students compare holidays in their home country to those celebrated in English-speaking cultures. This not only builds language skills but also deepens cultural understanding.
By tying language instruction to the festive season, you make learning fun and relatable, encouraging students to stay focused during this busy time.
2. Set Short-Term Goals with Rewards
The holidays are often accompanied by a sense of anticipation and celebration, making it the perfect time to implement short-term, goal-oriented learning activities.
- Holiday Challenges: Create a “12 Days of English” challenge, where students complete daily language tasks like learning idioms, practicing pronunciation, or writing short paragraphs.
- Reward Systems: Use holiday-themed rewards such as stickers, certificates, or small treats for achievements. For example, “earn a candy cane for every 10 new vocabulary words mastered.”
- Collaborative Goals: Encourage teamwork by setting group goals, such as creating a holiday skit or decorating a classroom board with English phrases.
These activities foster a sense of achievement and provide tangible incentives to keep students motivated through the end of the semester.
3. Make Activities Hands-On and Interactive
Young learners especially benefit from kinesthetic and interactive activities that hold their attention while reinforcing language skills.
- Craft Projects with Language Focus: Have students create holiday cards or decorations using English words and phrases.
- Cooking or Recipe Lessons: If feasible, organize a simple cooking activity where students follow an English recipe. It’s a fun way to practice reading comprehension and following instructions.
- Holiday Role-Playing: Organize role-plays or skits centered around holiday scenarios, such as shopping for gifts, writing letters to Santa, or planning a New Year’s party.
Interactive lessons help students stay focused by actively engaging them in the learning process while embracing the festive atmosphere.
4. Acknowledge and Celebrate Diverse Traditions
TESOL classrooms are often rich with cultural diversity, and the holidays present a unique opportunity to celebrate this.
- Cultural Show-and-Tell: Invite students to share how holidays are celebrated in their culture. They can bring photos, food, or even teach a few words in their native language.
- Multicultural Projects: Create a class project where students learn about different winter holidays, such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Lunar New Year.
- Inclusive Decorations: Encourage students to decorate the classroom with symbols from their own traditions alongside traditional English-speaking holiday items.
By validating and celebrating each student’s background, you create an inclusive environment that fosters respect and engagement.
5. Incorporate Technology and Games
Holidays are a great time to integrate technology and gamified learning to make lessons exciting and memorable.
- Online Holiday Quizzes: Use platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz to create holiday-themed quizzes that test vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
- Interactive Apps: Incorporate language-learning apps with holiday content to encourage independent practice.
- Festive Word Games: Play games like holiday-themed hangman, charades, or crosswords to reinforce key vocabulary in an enjoyable way.
Gamification taps into students’ natural competitiveness and curiosity, helping them stay focused while having fun.
6. Maintain Routine with a Twist
While it’s important to embrace the holiday spirit, keeping some consistency in your classroom routines can provide students with a sense of stability.
- Holiday Warm-Ups: Start each lesson with a holiday-themed question or activity, like discussing a holiday riddle or writing about a favorite seasonal food.
- Regular Assessments: Stick to regular assessment schedules but infuse them with festive elements, such as using holiday-themed reading passages or creating a “holiday listening quiz.”
- Reflection Activities: End each class with a reflective activity where students share what they’ve learned or enjoyed about the lesson.
Balancing routine with holiday cheer ensures that students remain on track while still enjoying the festive season.
7. Encourage End-of-Year Reflection and Celebration
The holidays are a natural time for reflection and celebration. Use this to motivate students to look back on their progress and look forward to future goals.
- Learning Portfolios: Have students create portfolios showcasing their achievements from the semester. They can include essays, completed worksheets, and creative projects.
- Holiday Thank-You Notes: Encourage students to write thank-you notes in English to someone who has helped them in their language journey, such as a teacher, classmate, or family member.
- Class Party: Organize a small holiday party where students share food, play games, and reflect on their growth. Use this as an opportunity to practice conversational English in a relaxed setting.
Celebrating achievements builds confidence and sets a positive tone as students head into the holiday break.
Final Thoughts: Keeping the Spark Alive
Keeping students motivated during the holidays requires a thoughtful balance of fun and focus. By incorporating seasonal themes, setting achievable goals, and celebrating diverse traditions, TESOL teachers can keep the spark of learning alive even during the busiest time of year. Most importantly, these strategies remind students that language learning is not just about studying—it’s about connecting with others, exploring cultures, and creating joyful experiences.
– TESOL Webinar – Motivating Students to Learn English During the Holidays
– TESOL Webinar – Mobile Motivation, Learning English with Smartphones
– Motivating Students in the Classroom
